JopieK

you could use a sticker for those port holes (I know one who would have no problems at all providing some for you in sand green if you promise to build it in real bricks and show the result for all our train fans ;))

Nice work Chorduroy!

the front end is indeed difficult! I think you did a nice job! the train is also very nice! I also like the front doors very much, nice older parts that look well on such a model.

but now it has transparent windows...

the LiPo battery is a very good choice, it runs for hours! it is very reliable and very much kid and student proof ;)

Looks very nice! Stickers / decals will do the rest! @AgentRick, marvelous job to transfer that train from the eighties into this Octan version!

Indeed, he also lists the entire set: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=41039-1

welcome to EB and the Train Tech forum dmiracle! I recently picked up a large train set (yellow cargo) including a station an freight train for about 100 bucks (well 115€ to be exact), so hope they have such a deals in the US too.

I totally agree with Paperballpark. I would go for the cargo one though. Just bought an extra (third one) two weeks ago, it was a superset with extra track, points and the small station together for 115€ so a very good value. Our cousins and nieces love those trains. Seems to depend on the kid, how old they can handle the specific train etc. and understand the concept of the remote control etc (some already at < 2 yo and others not until they are a little older).

Education is always a problem, in Holland there is one official reseller, others buy via this reseller (Heutink.nl)

Thanks for the feedback guys and gals! I will look into rearranging the shop / garage, I think it will take some time to build it, first some more train projects to do.

I decided to design a retro style gas station. I think it will become an Exxon one. At this point I'm not totally sure if all parts are available in the desired colors, but I think most of them are. The area left is a small car display area. Middle the repair shop, right the gas shop that still needs to get some more items (maybe including a coke vending machine?!) Although maybe a bit hard to see, the figures are different (at least there faces). The one behind the cash register is a girl.

I have my second part of Arduino with LEGO almost ready, it is also in my calendar :)

we automate LEGO train, make Mindstorms Robots, use Arduino to make LEGO Robots, we participate in the FIRST LEGO League, etc. (reformed christian high school). Stop motion would be great as well ;)

very impressive! does it give enough traction too?!

@elicend: http://www.fa-meier.de/lego/traindepot/html/other-trains.html

Grats Jim!!!

@1974, thanks for your correction :)

the 9V adapter indeed does not use PWM at all. There is a special print inside that regulates the voltage. PWM does not regulate the voltage.

Of course, but I like the brands :) same case with your oranges car.

I have a chiquita and a coca cola wagon. For the white and blue, milk would be reasonable of course :)

nice job indeed! this shows that a train with relatively simple box cars can be very attractive indeed!

It is not that difficult, as with all programming, one should start off very simple and work your way up from there to the bigger solution (I currently teach robotics in 'sophomore' year (first year bachelors), so I over and over again see that that is the problem with novice programmers: first decompose your larger problem into manageable chunks and then combine the chunks to solve the large problem).

Nice job! Thanks for this nice tutorial!

At 1.23 (they horizontally mirrored the film there) , I don't think it is in Canada since there are also French and Dutch (Vos Logistics) trucks loaded onto the train. Or they mixed film parts!